Repositionable surface electrodes

Abstract

A repositionable surface electrode for patient monitoring includes an active electrode layer having a top surface and a bottom surface and a leadwire connected to the active electrode layer. A first substrate has a top side, a bottom side, and a hole there through. The first substrate is positioned below the bottom surface of the active electrode layer such that the hole is aligned with the active electrode layer. An electrode gel channel is configured to conduct potentials from the patient's skin to the active electrode layer, the electrode gel channel extending through the hole in the first substrate. A silicone layer on the bottom side of the first substrate, avoiding the hole and the electrode channel, is configured to adhere the surface electrode to the patient's skin and to be removed from the patient's skin without becoming saturated with skin cells such that the electrode repositionable on the patient.

I claim: 
     
       1. A set of repositionable surface electrodes comprising:
 at least a first repositionable electrode, a second repositionable electrode, and a third repositionable electrode each comprising:
 a substrate having a top side, a bottom side, and a hole; 
 an active electrode layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the active electrode layer positioned above the top side of the substrate and aligned with the hole; 
 an electrode gel channel configured to conduct potentials from a patient's skin to the active electrode layer, the electrode gel channel extending through the hole in the substrate; 
 a silicon adhesive layer on the bottom side of the substrate avoiding the hole and the electrode gel channel, the silicon adhesive layer configured to adhere the surface electrode to the patient's skin and to be removed from the patient's skin without becoming saturated with skin cells such that the electrode is repositionable on the patient; 
 
 a connector configured to connect to a patient monitor so as to provide physiological potentials from the repositionable surface electrodes to the patient monitor; 
 a first leadwire connecting between the connector and the first electrode; 
 a second leadwire connecting between the connector and the second electrode; 
 a third leadwire connecting between the connector and the third electrode; and 
 wherein the second and third leadwires run adjacent and parallel between a first branch point proximal to the first electrode and a second branch point located between the first electrode and the second electrode. 
 
     
     
       2. The set of repositionable surface electrodes of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third electrodes and leadwires are arranged in an L shape, wherein the second branch point is proximal to the second electrode at which the second leadwire runs to the second electrode and the third leadwire branches perpendicular to the second leadwire and runs to the third electrode. 
     
     
       3. The set of repositionable surface electrodes of  claim 1 , wherein the second branch point is proximal to the second electrode at which the second leadwire runs to the second electrode and the third leadwire runs to the third electrode. 
     
     
       4. The set of repositionable surface electrodes of  claim 3 , wherein at the first branch point the first leadwire runs to the first electrode and the second and third leadwires branch substantially perpendicular from the first leadwire. 
     
     
       5. A set of repositionable surface electrodes comprising:
 a substrate; 
 a connector attached to a connection end of the substrate; 
 the substrate forming a first electrode node, a second electrode node, and a third electrode node; 
 a surface electrode formed on each of the electrode nodes, wherein each surface electrode comprises:
 an active electrode layer adhered to the substrate; 
 an electrode gel channel configured to conduct potentials from a patient's skin to the active electrode layer; 
 a silicon adhesive layer on a bottom side of the substrate avoiding the electrode gel channel, the silicon adhesive layer configured to adhere the respective surface electrode to the patient's skin and to be removed from the patient's skin without becoming saturated with skin cells such that the respective surface electrode is repositionable on the patient; 
 
 a first leadwire connecting between the connector and the first surface electrode; 
 a second leadwire connecting between the connector and the second surface electrode; 
 a third leadwire connecting between the connector and the third surface electrode; and 
 wherein the second and third leadwires run adjacent and parallel between a first branch point proximal to the first surface electrode and a second branch point located between the first surface electrode and the second surface electrode. 
 
     
     
       6. The set of repositionable surface electrodes of  claim 5 , wherein each active electrode layer is printed on the substrate at a respective substrate node with conductive ink, and the first, second and third leadwires are printed on the substrate with conductive ink. 
     
     
       7. The set of repositionable surface electrodes of  claim 6 , wherein each electrode node has a hole therethrough and the active electrode layer is printed on a top side of the substrate and over the hole, and wherein the electrode gel channel extends through the hole in the substrate. 
     
     
       8. The set of repositionable surface electrodes of  claim 6 , a top layer adhered to the substrate over the printed active electrode layer and printed leadwire. 
     
     
       9. The set of repositionable surface electrodes of  claim 5 , wherein the active electrode layer is a metal plate. 
     
     
       10. The set of repositionable surface electrodes of  claim 5 , wherein the first, second, and third surface electrodes and leadwires are arranged in an L shape, with the first electrode closest to the connector such that the first leadwire is shorter than the second and third lead wires and the third electrode is further from the connector such that the third leadwire is longer than the first and second leadwires. 
     
     
       11. The set of repositionable surface electrodes of  claim 10 , wherein the second branch point is proximal to the second surface electrode at which the second leadwire runs to the second surface electrode and the third leadwire branches perpendicular to the second leadwire and runs to the third surface electrode. 
     
     
       12. The set of repositionable surface electrodes of  claim 5 , wherein the branch point is proximal to the second electrode at which the second leadwire runs to the second electrode and the third leadwire runs to the third electrode. 
     
     
       13. The set of repositionable surface electrodes of  claim 12 , wherein at the first branch point the first leadwire runs to the first electrode and the second and third leadwires branch substantially perpendicular from the first leadwire.